Prominent Chicago-based lawyer Bill Dugan has joined world-renowned law firm Baker McKenzie's Employment & Compensation Practice as a partner.
Dugan specializes in management of complex litigation in federal and state courts and additional U.S. tribunals. He has defended several employers in class and collective actions, represented financial clients and litigated various high-profile cases.
"Baker McKenzie offers a unique opportunity for my practice—its strong market presence and focus on enhancing its employment expertise across North America convinced me that this is the best place to be," Dugan told the Cook County Record.
Dugan was previously at Seyfarth Shaw, where he served as chair of Seyfarth's Financial Services Employment Arbitration Practice Group. While there, he litigated major cases such as the largest gender pay and promotion sex discrimination action filed by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Baker McKenzie is one of the largest firms in the world, with 4,400 lawyers globally, with about 850 in North America, and 13,000 professionals in 47 countries. Dugan plans to use the firm's global reach to assist clients worldwide.
"The opportunity to join a firm with an unparalleled U.S. and global legal brand with a truly integrated network was one I could not pass up," Dugan said. "Baker offers me the opportunity to continue to provide excellent employment services to my clients across the U.S., but now I can also help clients solve their global employment needs. Further, given Baker’s excellent reputation in practice areas outside of employment, I can now serve clients in many areas that I was unable to do previously."
Dugan said his "first priority" would remain "delivering exceptional service to my clients."
"For over two decades, I have assisted clients across the U.S. with their employment needs, whether trade secret, complex litigation, class action or industry focused, such as financial services," he said. "It does not get any better than having clients who look to me as the trusted adviser who provides advice and solutions on core company matters."
Dugan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame.